Australian Open 2018: Caroline Wozniacki defeats Simona Halep in women's singles final


Caroline Wozniacki earned her first major championship Saturday with a three-set victory over Simona Halep in the 2018 Australian Open women's singles final.
Wozniacki, the No. 2 seed in the first Grand Slam tournament of the season, edged top seed Halep 7-6 (2), 3-6, 6-4 in a match that lasted 2 hours, 49 minutes and included a controversial injury delay as trainers worked on Wozniacki's left knee.

The victory also vaulted Wozniacki into the No. 1 spot in the Women's Tennis Association world rankings.
After the match, Wozniacki, 27, addressed Halep, who is still looking for her first Grand Slam title.
"I also want to congratulate Simona," Wozniacki said.

"I know that today, it's a tough day.
"I'm sorry that I had to win today but I'm sure we'll have many matches in the future.
"It was an incredible match, an incredible fight, and yeah again, I'm sorry."
After breaking Halep in the second game, Wozniacki got out to a 5-2 lead in the first set, but Halep recovered to take it to a tiebreaker.Wozniacki held her nerve to claim the breaker 7-2 and the set in 50 minutes.

Wozniacki couldn’t capitalize on four break point opportunities in the third game of the second set, with the score locked at 1-1.
Halep called for the trainer at 3-2 ahead in the second set for general health reasons, but it didn’t hinder her play, breaking Wozniacki in the eighth game to take a 5-3 lead.

Wozniacki again had three more break point chances in the ninth game but again couldn’t convert them, with Halep hanging on to claim the second set.
The match ebbed and flowed in the deciding set, with seven of the 10 games breaks of serve.
Wozniacki got out to a 3-1 lead after breaking Halep to love in the fourth game.

But Halep fought back, finding herself in front 4-3 — a break of serve in front.
That's when Wozniacki called for the trainer to address a left knee concern, and the break in play appeared to work in her favor, as she claimed the next three games to take the title